Tone-arm for talking-machines



A. VASSELLI.

TONE ARM FDR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, I918.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

1/1 1/6 a fox UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY VASSELLI, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO HARRIMAN NATIONAL BANK OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, TRUSTEE.

TONE-ARM FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed January 17, 1918. Serial No. 212,236.-

tain new and useful Tone-Arm for Talking Machines, of which the following is a specification. I My invention relates to tone arms for talking machines, and more particularly to tone arms which are provided with joints whereby the position of the soundbox may be changed from playing position in order to facilitate inserting or removing the reproducer point and wherein the sound box will be locked in the latter position.

I am aware that it has been suggested-to lock the sound box in raised position, but in all of such devices should the operator neglect to lower the sound box before the lid or cover of the. cabinet is closed, the inner side of the lid will be marred and scratched by coming in contact with the sound box, and if considerable force be applied to the cover, the tone arm or sound box, or both, may be broken or injured.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the sound box will be locked in raised position in such a. manner that when engaged by the cover it will be moved from such raised position.

further object is to provide means whereby when in lowered position, the sound box while being free to move vertically relatively to the record disk, will be prevented from being accidentally moved into engagement with the cover when the latter is in closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient securing means, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith these and other objects in view, to be more fully set forth hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which willbe exemplified in' the construction hereinafter described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings considered together or separately. I

T have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings'in which like parts in all the figures are designated by similar reference characters, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a tone arm provided with my invention, the section being taken on the line l1 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a tone arm 1 of ordinary construction, and

having a slightly upturned outer extremity 2. Pivoted on a pin 3 in the end 2 of the tone arm is a tubular member 4:. The tubular member 1 is of less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the extremity 2 of the tone arm. The inner end of the tubular member 1 is provided with a'spherical portion so as to closely fit the interior of the tone arm 1 at the extremity 2 and be capable of angular movement relatively to the axis of the tone arm.

Inserted in the outer extremity of the tubular member A is an elbow 5 of less diameter than 1. The joint 5 may be rigidly secured in the elbow 4, or it may be relatively movable therein in order that the plane of the sound box may be changed to play either lateral or vertical cut records.

A hollow member 6 of smaller diameter than the elbow 5 is rigidly secured in the outer extremity of the latter, and carries a sound box or reproducer 7 of any approved type. The sound box is provided with the usual diaphragm, stylus arm and stylus.

Extending across the tone arm 1, a short distance to the rear of the pin 3 is a similar pin 8 which may be threaded into the side wall of the tone arm. A sleeve 9 is carried by the pin 8, and is secured thereto by means of a set screw 10. The sleeve has a reduced portion 11 which engages a slot 12 in a lever 13 which is thereby pivoted on the sleeve and is capableof movement relatively of the sleeve and'pin in the direction longitudinally of the lever 13.

The front extremity of the lever 13 has a cam face 14L which engages the inner end 15 of the tubular member. A'spring 16 is secured to the sleeve 9 and the rear extremity of the lever 13 by being set in a recess and having aportion of'said spring bent over on the'side of the lever. This spring tends to hold the rear end of the slot 12 in contact with the pin 8, so that 1 and retains the lever 13 in place.

An inspection of Fig. 2 will show that the lever 13 is in the longitudinal centerof the tone arm.

The lower edge of the extremity 2 of the tone arm has a notched portion 13 to permit the tubular member l to swing downwardly when desired. This notched portion may be omitted if it is not desired to swing the tubular member as far as shown, or it may be made deeper if more movement be desired.

The operation is as'follows: V

The parts being in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the sound box may be raised slightly so as to placethe stylus in the record groove, and the sound box may freely move vertically by reason of theunevennessof the record disk. This is made possible by reason of the lost motion at the point a. The endot the tubular member l may travel downward a, short distance before itengages the cam 15. At the same time the sound box is prevented from falling lower by the engagement of the tubular member with the undersideo'f the lever at b. It being understood that the rear end of the lever is in engagement with the wall of the tone arm near the bottom thereof.

Furtherupward movement of the sound box will engage the point awith the cam face of the lever and force it back against the tension of the spring 16. Asthe inner end of the tubular member proceeds downward, it will ride over the top of the cam 1 1 and the spring will move the lever forward so that its front upper corner will engage beneath the pin'3. I

When the sound box is released, it will fall until the end ofthe tubular member engages the cam face at 0. This will. prevent when-the sound box is in the position shown in full lines, the weight ofthe cover on the sound box will cause the edge of the tubulari member 1 to rise along the cam face 1 1 and push the lever 13 backward against the tension of the spring 16 and release tl'lG'fOlWtHCl end ofthe'leverfrom its-position beneath the pin 3. As the lever is raised above the pin, the spring will move it forward toagain engage the tubular member 4, and hold the same in the-position shown in the dotted lines.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statute, I have described the principle of my invention together with the apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire it understood that my invention is not con fined tothe particular form of apparatus herein shown and described, and, thercilore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which objects of my invention are attained, and the new results accomplished, as herein set forth, as it is obvious that the particular embodiment herein shown and described is only one of many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

.1. A tone-arm having a pivoted member, a spring actuated lever within the tone-arm for securing the member in a predetermined position, said member extending'within the tone-arm to engage the lever and adapted to move the same to release the member.

2. A tone-arm having a pivoted member, said member extending within the tone-arm.

a lever pivoted within the tone-arm, meansfor moving the lever in one direction to en gage the same with the'member, and means whereby movement of the member'will permit of movement of the lever from its engagement with the member. i

3. A tone-arm, a member extending within the tone-arm, and pivoted in the same, a pin within the tone-arm, a lever pivoted on the pin, a spring adapted to move the lever in one direction to engage the same with the member and with the pin, a cam face on the lever in engagement 7 with the 'member, whereby movement of the 'member will. cause thelever to be moved from its engagement with the member and pin.

4L. A tonearm, a member pivoted in the extremity of the tone-arm, a lever 'ithin the tone-arm, said lever engaging the memher and being movable by the pivotal movement of the member, the engagement of the member with the lever being within the tonearm. 7

5. A tone-arm,a member pivoted in the extremity of the tone-arm, a lever within the tone-arm, and capable of movement pivotal movement of the member will bodily move the lever longitudinally of the tonearm.

7. A tone arm, an element extending within the tone arm, a tubular member pivoted on the element, a pin extending across the tone arm, a lever pivoted on the pin, there being a slot in the lever engaging the pin, a spring for moving the lever in one direction 10 to engage the same with the element, a cam face on the lever in engagement with the member, whereby movement of the member will move the lever from its engagement with the element.

This specification .signed and witnessed 15 this 41th day of January, 1918.

ANTHONY VASSELLI. Vitnesses':

ELIZABETH M. BALLING, NORMAN E. ZUSI. 

